Tone bar



April 18, 1933. 1 904,335

G. STEVENS worm BAR Filed April 25 1952 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE GEORGE STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS TONE IBAR Application filed April 25, 1932. Serial 11o. 607,301.

This invention relates to improvements in tire bar, thus assisting in the skillful matone bars to be used when playing guitars and nipulation of the bar. A third groove 8 is similar stringed instruments for varying the preferably formed in the bar, in which the tone of the music. A particular object of operator places his thumb so as to holdthe 6 the invention is to provide a bar, preferably bar firmly against the fingers in the other of metal, having a particular shape, which grooves. At the same time, the thumb allows adapts it to be held by the operator in a, parthe operator to hold the bar more or less firmticular manner. ly and to tilt it one way or the other, as may Of the acoompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a be desired, for operating the instrument.

10 perspective elevation of the bar; and Fig. 2 In this manner, a bar is formed which has is an end view thereof. a surface suitable for coming in contact with As is well understood, in playing certain the strings, and so arranged that it can be stringed instruments When it is desired to skillfully manipulated by the operator so as give a peculiar tone to the music; for instance, to vary the length of several strings simulta- 15 such as is usualwith thoseimitatin Hawaiian neously, or one or more strings at a time, as music; a bar having a rounded sur ace is used may be desired, and the bar can also be held to vary the length or the vibrations of the very firmly against the strings, or loosely strings so as to producethe desired notes and thereon, so as to vary as desired the vibraalso to vary the particular tone of the instrutions or the particular tone of the instrument.

20 ment. It is common, in sueh a case, to use I am well aware that various bars for this metal bars, but the material of which the purpose have been produced, and means have bar is composed is not a necessary feature of been provided in some cases to assist in holdmy invention. ing the bars, but my invention lies in the par- The bar embodying the features of my inticular shape of the bar holding means which 25 vention comprises an elongated bar, such as allows the operator to manipulate the haar is shown in Fig. 1, being preferably oblong more skillfully and artistically than has been in general shape, and having a rounded surthe case heretofore. face 5 which is brought into contact with the The material of which the bar is composed string or strings the lengths or the vibrations may be varied to snit the operator, but I 30 of which are to .be varied by the operator. prefer for the purpose a metallic bar com- The bar also comprises means for holding posed preferably of brass. Also, the exact the bar firmly at all times and in a particudimensions of the bar are not a necessary lar manner, so that it can be manipulated aofeature of my invention, but I prefer one of curately, aocording to the desires of the opthe ordinary length and with the grooves 35 erator. The holding means comprises a conadapted to fit the fingers and thumb of the cave portion 6 which is opposite the rounded operator. surface, and in which the operator ordinarily I claim as my invention: places the first finger of his left hand. The 1. A tone bar comprising an elongated bar bar comprises also a groove 7 which is adapthaving in general an oblong cross section,

40 ed to receive the second finger of the operabut with one edge comex and the opposite 8 tor. In both cases, the grooves have a. conedge concave, and with the concave surface cave inner side and are substantially of the extending substantially uniformly across the same shape throughout the length of the bar, full length of the bar, the radius of curvature so that the fingers at certain times at least of the concave surface being comparable to aan lie extended along substantially the en the radius of the opposite convex surface.

GEORGE STEVENS. 

